Sweden’s election exit polls show center-left opposition ahead of populist right

Swedish voters are participating in a pivotal election that could significantly impact the country’s political landscape and its role as NATO’s newest member. The election sees Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s center-right coalition competing against a center-left bloc led by former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson’s Social Democrats. A key issue is whether the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats, a party with roots in the extreme-right, will enter the government for the first time. Having gained influence since entering parliament in 2010, the Sweden Democrats supported Kristersson’s minority government from outside the cabinet by 2022. Now, Kristersson aims for a majority government, offering the Sweden Democrats ministerial roles if the right wins. This election tests the party’s political normalization and Swedish voters’ readiness to accept them in power. Polls show a close race, with the center-left slightly ahead. Historically, Sweden’s mainstream parties avoided the Sweden Democrats due to their extremist origins, but under Jimmie Åkesson’s leadership since 2005, the party has worked to moderate its image and gain mainstream acceptance. QUESTION: How might the inclusion of the Sweden Democrats in the government influence Sweden’s policies on immigration and crime?